[color=gray][center][sup][h2]O[i][sub][sup]nce, there was a man who lived a life so mundane, it could only be true. [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] Practically invisible to the world around him, life carries on while he felt perpetually stuck treading water just to keep his head [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] afloat. Fortunately for the man, fate had different ideas and intervened with a heavy hand. Pushed into a corner, the man [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] was driven to hide amongst dusty shelves and heavy tomes. In the silence, he could hear his name being whispered, [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] over and over again, until his hand touched one particular opus. A worn book, bound in leather and tarnished steel. Though [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] sealed, it opened for a price, and upon spreading its pages, the man's life was changed forever. [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] Now, he is the Warlock they call...[/sup][/sub][/i][/h2][/sup][/center][sub][hr][/sub][sup][hr][/sup][CENTER][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5661999][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019e83f9-259f-75fb-95e3-57387106ed18.webp[/img][/url][/CENTER][sub][hr][/sub][sup][hr][/sup][SUB][SUP][table][row][cell][INDENT][h2][b][COLOR=SILVER]L[SUP][SUB]OCATION:[/SUB][/SUP][/COLOR][/b] [i][SUP][SUB]THE HAUNT - MILK STREET[/SUB][/SUP][/i][/h2][/INDENT][/cell][cell][INDENT][RIGHT][h2][b][COLOR=SILVER]U[SUP][SUB]RBAN [/SUB][/SUP]G[SUP][SUB]OTHIC[/SUB][/SUP] #1.13[SUP][SUB]:[/SUB][/SUP][/COLOR][/b] [i][SUP][SUB]HAUNTED[/SUB][/SUP][/i][/h2][/RIGHT][/INDENT][/cell][/row][/table][/SUP][/SUB][hr][SUP][SUP][table][row][cell][INDENT][sup][h1][b][COLOR=SILVER]I[SUP][SUB]NTERACTIONS:[/SUB][/SUP][/COLOR][/b] [i][SUP][SUB]NONE[/SUB][/SUP][/i][/h1][/sup][/INDENT][/cell][cell][INDENT][RIGHT][sup][h1][b][COLOR=SILVER]P[SUP][SUB]REVIOUSLY:[/SUB][/SUP][/COLOR][/b] [i][SUP][SUB][URL=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5668134]HUNT[/URL] // [URL=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5669096]CARMILLA[/URL] [/SUB][/SUP][/i][/h1][/sup][/RIGHT][/INDENT][/cell][/row][/table][/SUP][/SUP][INDENT][INDENT][COLOR=#4682B4][i]"Whether you realize it or not, you're learning to use your familiar. It's the first step any mage makes. Even as we speak, your senses are synchronizing to its own."[/i][/COLOR] Galloway's words echoed in Archie's head again as the chill of the night air hit his face. Stepping into the alleyway, he looked around. This is where the camera had shown Treasure being grabbed, but the van left no tracks on the asphalt to follow. It could have been any other alley in the city as Archie looked around. The brick walls of the once-booming factory district were decorated with graffiti, at least what hadn't been painted over or cleaned off during the gentrification of Milk Street. Empty crates from liquor deliveries lined the immediate walls outside of the Haunt; the whole area was draped in a faint fog laced with the smell of the antique boiler system, which fought for dominance with its own distinct musty odour against the competing dank stench of urine and soggy cigarette ash. [color=c0c0c0]"Marrok,"[/color] Archie called softly, looking back and forth for any sign of the black dog. [color=c0c0c0]"Marrok!"[/color] He repeated, his tone more insistent. [color=c0c0c0][i]Do I even need to call out loud for you?[/i][/color] The pitter-patter of sharp claws against the black tar of the alley alerted Archie to Marrok's arrival. Red eyes eerily watched him through the fog while the wolf-like silhouette approached, his tongue hanging happily out of his mouth before coming to a seated position directly in front of Archie. [color=c0c0c0]"I need your nose,"[/COLOR] Archie replied, kneeling beside his familiar, [color=c0c0c0]"How do I draw on your senses?"[/COLOR] He asked the bagherst only for the dog to suddenly push his cold, wet nose against Archie's face. In an instant, Marrok disappeared, and Archie staggered backwards. If he had thought the alley smelled awful before, he didn't know what he was expecting when using Marrok's senses. All at once, he was bombarded with layers of smell he couldn't even previously comprehend. Individual ingredients from the street meat a block away, dirt from the Lantern District, the distinct smell of a perfume made of lilac and gooseberries. And there in the middle of all of it was the fleeting scent of Treasure. Treasure had worn the same perfume for as long as Archie could remember. He had even bought it on Harri's behalf for more than one last-minute Christmas gift run. It had gone under a few names over the years, the latest of which was 'Paradise Lost'. It was a tropical fruity fragrance with juicy mango, cardamom, and sandalwood. Archie remembered reading the label at one point and inwardly scoffing at the description, saying the perfume was inspired by Brazilian beaches and music. Supposedly to remind both the wearer and those around them of bossa nova, endless horizons, and vibrant, fruity, beachy notes. It had been marketed for years as a 'desert island scent', as in if you could only have one, this should be it. A message that Treasure took to heart. Archie took a deep breath, following the scent to the end of the alley before suddenly losing it in the open street. All at once, everything suddenly became louder and stronger, his ears overloading with the sounds of the city, forcing Archie to beat a hasty retreat back into the alley before Marrok suddenly departed from him. [color=c0c0c0]"It's too much-"[/COLOR] Archie panted, [color=c0c0c0]"I, I can't,"[/COLOR] He cried, slamming a frustrated fist against the ground only for Marrok to whimper slightly, empathizing with the young warlock before gently nudging Archie with his soft face. Marrok rubbed his nose against Archie's pocket, the grimoire disguised as a phone within letting off a pulse against Archie's leg as he nodded. [color=c0c0c0]"Yeah, yeah, I know, I need to use the book,"[/COLOR] He gritted his teeth, standing as he tried to force his way through the splitting headache that had made its home in the seat vacated by Marrok. Rubbing a hand between the dog's ears, Archie turned towards the side door he had entered the alley from. [color=c0c0c0]"I'll meet you back at the car,"[/COLOR] He told Marrok before opening the door and nearly running straight into Boz who immediately stopped upon seeing Archie. [color=#606B8E]"Hey, Superstar,"[/COLOR] Boz called to Archie before grabbing hold of his arm, [color=#606B8E]"Come here a second,"[/COLOR] He said, motioning with his head before pulling Archie into a secluded corridor away from Harri. [color=#606B8E]"Look, I wasn't able to reach Detective Wilcox tonight, but the officer took the plate, and they'll definitely run it the minute they get the go-ahead. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is take Harri home, get her some food, maybe some sugar to help with the shock, and get her to rest."[/COLOR] Boz explained, [color=#606B8E]"The first twenty-four hours in a missing persons case is the most critical, and we're almost out of time, so I don't want to keep getting anyone's hopes up."[/COLOR] [color=c0c0c0]"Boz-"[/COLOR] [color=#606B8E]"Sugar coating isn't going to help; there's a hard road ahead from this point. Ideally, we recover the girl, she comes home safely,"[/COLOR] Boz lowered his voice further, [color=#606B8E]"I know you don't watch the news, but abductions like this, they've been happening around the city and those found."[/COLOR] He paused, composing himself. [color=#606B8E]"Those found, the bodies are barely recognizable. No one has been recovered alive yet."[/COLOR] Boz warned, straightening up. [color=#606B8E]"Be supportive, but under no circumstances promise Harri that we'll find her sister."[/COLOR] He shook his head, [color=#606B8E]"I just wish the D.A. would do something. So many of these cases piling up, how many more dead do we need before we can justify a task force, or hell, even bring in the Vanguard?"[/COLOR] [color=c0c0c0]"Alright,"[/COLOR] Archie nodded, [color=c0c0c0]"I'll drop Harri off at her place, but you've got to call me the second you hear from your contact."[/COLOR] [color=#606B8E]"Cross my heart,"[/COLOR] Boz replied, putting a hand to his chest. He suddenly hugged Archie before speaking again. [color=#606B8E]"Take care of yourself too. Make sure you eat and sleep as well, and don't try to shoulder all of this. Treasure is her own person, so is Harriet; they're not for Mr. Hardwick to constantly care for."[/COLOR] [color=c0c0c0]"I'll do my best,"[/COLOR] Archie replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his hand before Boz gave him a playful wink. [color=#606B8E]"Do me one better, WWBD, what would Boz do?"[/COLOR] [color=c0c0c0]"Take advantage of her compromised emotional state and get to second base?"[/COLOR] Archie asked with a raised eyebrow. [color=#606B8E]"Ouch, and gross."[/COLOR] Boz answered, [color=#606B8E]"I don't know who you're thinking like, but definitely don't do that."[/COLOR] He clapped Archie on the back, [color=#606B8E]"Go get Harri and get out of here."[/COLOR] He insisted as Archie nodded again before walking through the Haunt towards where Harri was sitting. She was absently stirring a drink, not particularly interested in the alcohol in front of her, the drink apparently on the house. [color=c0c0c0]"I, I should get you home,"[/COLOR] Archie managed to say before Harri looked up at him, her eyes red, tears still welled in the corner. She shook her head at his statement before replying. [color=#98FB98]"I don't want to be alone tonight,"[/COLOR] Harri said, looking straight into Archie's eyes, [color=#98FB98]"Can I, can I stay with you?"[/COLOR] She asked, [color=#98FB98]"I really want to stay at your house tonight."[/COLOR] Archie looked back towards where Boz had been, noting that Carmilla was also now absent, before he turned his attention back to Harri. [color=c0c0c0]"Uh, yeah,"[/COLOR] He answered. [color=c0c0c0][i][b]NO![/b][/i][/COLOR] His internal monologue screamed before Archie helped Harri to her feet. The pair departed the Haunt, driving in silence back across Milk Street. Marrok kept his head between the two front seats for the whole duration of the ride so he could rest it on Harri's lap. Once the trio had returned to Archie's apartment, Archie got Harri settled into his bedroom loft, making sure she was comfortable before returning with a snack in hand. [color=c0c0c0]"Popcorn?"[/COLOR] Archie asked, extending a bowl filled to the brim with freshly popped kernels. [color=#98FB98]"You still make popcorn every night?"[/COLOR] [color=c0c0c0]"It's my thinking food."[/COLOR] He replied, turning on the television and selecting a movie. [color=#98FB98]"You know, we can watch other movies,"[/COLOR] Harri stated as Archie put on 'Pretty Woman'. [color=c0c0c0]"Nonsense,"[/COLOR] He replied, [color=c0c0c0]"You have watched Pretty Woman every time you've been sick, sad, or otherwise upset for as long as I've known you."[/COLOR] Archie explained as the opening music started in the background, [color=c0c0c0]"And if I know you, within five minutes-"[/COLOR] He looked back at Harri, who was fast asleep already, the popcorn untouched. [color=c0c0c0]"You'll be fast asleep."[/COLOR] No sooner had Harri's eyes closed than did Archie steal away from the loft back to the main floor of the apartment. He placed his phone on the desk, watching as it unfurled back into its native form, the pages of the heavy tome unfolding onto his desk while Archie opened a bag of red licorice twists beside the already half-devoured bowl of popcorn. Adjusting his glasses, Archie cracked his fingers excitedly before he flipped back to the last page he had read regarding the illumination spell. Languages of all regions of the world covered the pages, their characters shifting to English as he worked, while Archie absorbed every piece of the ancient arcane texts. Hours passed, and night began to turn to dawn, the first rays of sun peeking through the frosted glass that made up the bulk of Archie's exterior facing wall. Too engrossed in the Grimoire, Archie failed to notice that Harri had stirred, descending the loft while sleepily rubbing her eyes. Archie, meanwhile, stood, hand outstretched, while dark circles weighed down his eyes before speaking in a tongue that Harri didn't recognize, his hand flourishing before his fingers snapped and a blazing orb erupted seemingly from his palm. [color=c0c0c0]"Holy $#!%!"[/COLOR] Archie exclaimed, looking at the smouldering scorch mark on the block wall. [color=c0c0c0]"I'm a wizard, Harri!"[/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]